New technology rapidly measures antioxidants in maple syrup
Researchers at ۲ݮƵ University have developed an eco-efficient, user-friendly technology that quickly measures the antioxidant content of maple syrup. The innovative method contributes to increasing transparency about a health-related aspect of the syrup's nutritional value and allows for on-site quality testing without the need for costly lab assessments.
Time in nature benefits children with mental health difficulties: study
A team of researchers from ۲ݮƵ and Université de Montréal’s Observatoire pour l’éducation et la santé des enfants (OPES, or observatory on children’s health and eduation), led by Sylvana Côté, spending two hours a week of class time in a natural environment can reduce emotional distress among 10- to 12-year-olds who had the most significant mental health problems before the program began.
Better education can mitigate post-harvest food losses, increase global food security
Better educating farmers and food processors about how to avoid post-harvest food losses – which amount to one-third of global food production, worth US$1 trillion annually – would reduce global food insecurity, according to researchers at ۲ݮƵ University.
Temporary sound installations could help reduce noise pollution: study
Temporary sound installations can be a low-cost way of dealing with noise pollution in areas of high urban density, ۲ݮƵ University researchers have found.
Dubbed the “new second hand smoke,” noise pollution can have consequences ranging from simple annoyance to such serious health problems as hearing loss and high blood pressure and can exacerbate various mental health conditions.
Atlantic killer whales show dangerously high levels of toxic chemicals: study
Killer whales off Canada’s Atlantic coast continue to be contaminated with dangerously high levels of toxic chemicals that put them at elevated risk of severe immune-system and reproductive problems, a recent ۲ݮƵ-led study has found.
Researchers find design flaws and oversight issues in certain health apps, offer solutions for more effective tools
AI-powered apps offering medical diagnoses at the click of a button are often limited by biased data and a lack of regulation, leading to inaccurate and unsafe health advice, a new study found.
Berry-flavoured may be more dangerous than non-flavoured vapes: study
Berry-flavoured vapes can weaken the lungs’ natural defences, making it harder for the body to fight off infections, new research suggests.
The study compared effects of flavoured e-cigarettes to those of unflavoured ones.
While previous research has shown that all forms of vaping can be harmful, the scholars said this study adds to a mounting body of evidence demonstrating how added flavourings to vaping solutions can exacerbate the dangers.
Landmark study finds low-sugar diet in early childhood reduces lifetime risk of chronic disease
A low-sugar diet in the first years of life can significantly reduce the risk of chronic diseases in adulthood, a study based on historical data has found.
The researchers pulled data from UK Biobank, focusing on adults conceived just before and after the 1953 end of wartime sugar rationing in the United Kingdom.
Tracking biodiversity: ۲ݮƵ researchers outline strengths and challenges in new monitoring framework
As the UN COP16 on biodiversity meets in Calì, Colombia, experts from ۲ݮƵ University are on-site, providing important input into the global conversation.
۲ݮƵ aims to be a world leader in making dentistry sustainable
In response to growing concerns about climate change, ۲ݮƵ University researchers are exploring how even a routine dental visit can become a more sustainable practice
The Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences is calculating the carbon footprint of its entire operation, including several clinics that serve the public. The goal is to become among the first fully sustainable dental faculties in the world.
Most Canadians consider public transit to be an essential service, according to initial results of a ۲ݮƵ study
Most Canadians view public transit as an essential service and support increased provincial funding in response to current financial difficulties, according to preliminary results from a ۲ݮƵ-led study.
How vitamin D deficiency can lead to autoimmune diseases
As Canadians brace for “vitamin D winter” – months when the sun’s angle is too low to produce the vitamin in the skin – a ۲ݮƵ University study explains why vitamin D deficiency early in life is associated with a higher risk of autoimmune diseases.
During childhood, the thymus helps train immune cells to distinguish between the body’s own tissues and harmful invaders. A vitamin D deficiency at that stage of life causes the thymus to age more quickly, the researchers discovered.
Genetic tweaks can make oats more nutritious, increase shelf life
A recent study from ۲ݮƵ University proposes a way to enhance the nutritional value of oats by increasing their content of oleic acid, a type of healthy fat known for its cardiovascular heart benefits and potential to lower diabetes.
The findings also suggest this modification could improve their oxidative stability, making oat-based products, such as oat milk, less likely to spoil.
Parenting programs help kids, but provide insufficient support for parents, study finds
Parenting programs that address both mental health and parenting skills can improve children’s development, but often fall short when it comes to offering effective mental-health support for parents, new research suggests.
New global database of dams and reservoirs could transform water management
A groundbreaking database developed by the Global Dam Watch (GDW) consortium is set to transform the global understanding of dams and reservoirs.
Co-ordinated and led by members of a research lab at ۲ݮƵ University, with funding from World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the World Bank, the database integrates existing global datasets to provide the most comprehensive resource for large-scale analyses to date.